She scampered off down the streets of Malabar, frantically seeking shelter. Her deal with Al Abarti had gone terribly wrong, and she needed sanctuary from his anger after she turned down his amorous advances.
She stood at the top of the Street of Women – she had a choice to make. Down one way was the brothel of which she'd heard so much – the place of last resort for poor and desperate women. The other way led to the Nunnery – of the Sisters of Perpetual Sorrow, for hunted and sick women, and she hesitated for a while, not sure which she wanted least.
The sounds of a bugle cut through the morning air and she knew that Al Abarti was closing in. She swallowed hard and flew down the street to the nunnery where she knew she would find shelter.
The Reverend Mother looked her up and down and nodded slowly. "We do give sanctuary to hard pressed females," she said in her gravely voice, "in return for certain works and contributions. You look young and strong, I'm sure you will be up to what we demand from you".
She called one of the sisters to escort Tibella to her cell, and gave her the habit of the Order to put on. The colours were grey and white, and suited the dolour of the general air of the place well.
The sister was excited. "You've arrived at a good time", she burbled, "tonight is the greatest night of the year, and if you're very lucky, you might be allowed to participate".
Tibella could get no more out of her, and was put straight to work scrubbing floors, so learned nothing until the Compline bell was rung, in the early evening. It was then that the sisters came for her.
They took her to the Infirmarium, and made her stand in a tub while they washed her all over with sweet smelling unguents, "so as to be pleasing to God" as one sister said piously, as she combed the long freshly washed locks of her hair. "I don't have to become a nun, do I?" Tibella asked anxiously and was shushed with much laughter, as they reassured her this was simply a preliminary ceremony to welcome her to the nunnery.
They dressed her in a diaphanous gown and hung gold round her neck and from her ears. They gave her a drink which she took one sniff of and threw it away while their backs were turned.